Can a midi controller keyboard be used with sofware like Sythogy Grand Piano or VSL software like violin emulators etc. or do these programs only act as a plug-in on a wave file?

Do I need to buy a keyboard instead of a midi controller like M-Audio Axiom?

Tuite wrote:Can a midi controller keyboard be used with sofware like Sythogy Grand Piano or VSL software like violin emulators etc. or do these programs only act as a plug-in on a wave file?

Do I need to buy a keyboard instead of a midi controller like M-Audio Axiom?

Yes. No. No.

Have fun, the world of software synths is something I just got into and it's a good way to waste many hours of life.

Tuite wrote:Can a midi controller keyboard be used with sofware like Sythogy Grand Piano or VSL software like violin emulators etc. or do these programs only act as a plug-in on a wave file?

Do I need to buy a keyboard instead of a midi controller like M-Audio Axiom?

What busbus said...

The M-Audio Axiom should be fine for what you want to do.

It can be a little annoying, trying to get stuff connected right and learning about using computers for music at first. One of the problems is that people often buy something not realizing that in order for that thing to work, they have to also buy 3 other things. Do you already have any music software? What is it? If you don't have a VST host (cubase, logic, protools, live, fruity loops, garage band, reaper, buzz, etc) you might have to get one. (Or not...)

Yea Im running Cubase SX and I own an Axiom 61. Basically, I just want to be able to play my Axiom and use Synthogy`s Ivory Grand Piano to make the sound. I also want to use VSL for violin and Cello sounds. So this can be done?

Anyone know a really good quality software synth, for crazy dance sounds like distorted guitars and things you hear in Prodigy songs or new stuff by Britney & Rihanna (sorry, its all I can think of at the minute)?

Tuite wrote:Yea Im running Cubase SX and I own an Axiom 61. Basically, I just want to be able to play my Axiom and use Synthogy`s Ivory Grand Piano to make the sound. I also want to use VSL for violin and Cello sounds. So this can be done?

Anyone know a really good quality software synth, for crazy dance sounds like distorted guitars and things you hear in Prodigy songs or new stuff by Britney & Rihanna (sorry, its all I can think of at the minute)?

Ok, well I looked at the requirements-- it says you also have to have an iLok, which costs about $40. Since it can work as a "standalone" application, you don't have to use it inside Cubase in order to play it live. Also, yeah, you can use your Axiom to play VSL. Just be sure that your computer is powerful enough...

Native instruments has a lot of good soft synths. MASSIVE is pretty cool.

maybe you should think about getting a software sampler instead of some software synths. I think it's called HALion for cubase. then you'll have a wide choice of sampling cds and Akai cd-roms with great and realistic sounds. there are thousands of these sampling cds. with either loops or multi layered sounds to play your own melodies.

Thanks for your help guys! I appreciate it!

One more question though, now that you mention PC power, Im also about to buy a custom built PC with silent components. I read somewhere that these programs should really have a seperate hard drive running at 10k rpm, is this unrealistic? I was looking at a 2.33 Ghz dual core, 2GB RAM and hard drive at 7200 rpm. Should this do the trick or should I go higher?

My busiest situation would be, running Cubase SX, Ill have Amplitube 2 open on up to 4 tracks, VSL on one and Synthogy Piano on one, with about 6 other tracks for vox, drums etc.

you'll need a second hard disc for recording. you have less problems when you don't record on the hard drive that runs your program. dual core 2.33 will be more than fast enough. I would spend less on a PC and more on a good sound card.

Will a hard drive partition do? If I get a separate hard drive for Samples n data and then split my main hard drive, one half for programs, the other for recording files?

Well Im using a Mackie Onyx Satellite so that acts as my soundcard.

Tuite wrote:Will a hard drive partition do? If I get a separate hard drive for Samples n data and then split my main hard drive, one half for programs, the other for recording files?

You usually want a separate physical drive for writing the recorded data to.